Child Protection in International Schools Abroad

Independent International Schools, institutions that serve Americans abroad, have long operated in isolation, especially regarding child protection. Relationships with legal entities and other authority are historically related to protecting the school. Recent cases that have reached the international media are forcing schools to examine their policies and practices. This presentation will look at the characteristics of the international school student, family and community within the host country that keep these populations vulnerable to abuse, which remains unreported, as well as the resilience of our students. The presentation will conclude with changes that many of the schools are now working on to increase child protection for their population.